First Day of School 2013

 Another year of school has started.  As much as I love that they get to go to school and see friends and learn new things, school also stresses me out.  I constantly want to make sure they do well and are kind to others.  It also means my babies are another year older.  Plus side I get to pay less for childcare than in the summer :)

Hunter 3rd Grade     Lexi 1st Grade

Johnson Family 2013

The Johnson Family (minus the Bakers)

Our family just keeps growing!! 

 This is the best picture I got with all of the kids and noone is blurry :)  minus Ben, Aubrey, & Gwen



Lexi's 1st tooth

 Lexi finally lost her first tooth!!  She has been working on this loose tooth for awhile now.

New Windsor Rodeo

This was our first year at the New Windsor Rodeo.  The kids and I had a great time with family.  Lexi of course wants a horse now.  The kids enjoyed the rodeo, carnival food & games.  We can't wait to go next year :)

 Hunter, Addysen, & Lexi ready to head to the stands

 Grandma Cheryl & Hunter

 Lexi & Addysen munching on carnival food

 Hunter & Mommy

 Katie & Ainsley

 Such cute cowgirls.  I especially love the pose and face Ainsley is giving me.

 Aunt Karyn, Addysen, Lexi, & Grandma Cheryl

 first carnival game

2 of the cutest girls I know

Knox County Fair Cattle Show

 This past weekend we went to the Knox County Fair to support Hunter & Lexi's cousin Addysen who was showing cattle.  She did such a good job showing and we are so proud of the little farm girl!!

 Lexi, Addysen, Lauren, & Hunter waiting for Addysen to show her calf

Addysen showing Flower.  She even got her ribbon from their friend Ava who is Little Miss Knox County Fair.

Snowball

Lexi's 6th Birthday is coming up and she has been talking about a bunny.  I of course have said NO this whole time.  I finally caved and looked around for bunnies.  There was only 1 store in Pekin that carried them.  So instead of waiting for her actual birthday we drove to Pekin to get her bunny.  Knowing my luck had I waited we wouldn't have been able to get one then.

Tina kept her and Emma busy while Hunter and I went to pick one out.  Once we got it the store guy held her while we went to get Lexi.  I told her I wanted to show her something.  We walked around the corner and I whispered "Happy Birthday" to he and pointed to the guy.  She smiled and yelled.  The guy handed her the bunny and it was love at first sight.

 Snowball Lexi's new flop eared bunny

 snuggling with Snowball and Daddy

These two love to hold her because she is such a snuggly bunny!!

 Izzy & Tabby didn't know what to think of her at first.

 Snowball sleeping under Lexi's blanket :)

Cabin Weekend

The end of July we stayed in the cabin for the weekend.  We hadn't gotten a chance to yet so it was nice to get away from our busy lives and just relax with nature. We go fishing, 4-wheeling, and just hang out as a family. 

 Lexi, Me, and Hunter

Tina and Emma

 Hunter got to shoot his shotgun for the first time at the shooting range.  He didn't do too bad!

Dirk started talking smack so we each took a shot.  Notice who was closer to the bullseye, hahaha.

Grandpa Carl showing the kids where to get blackberries.  Hunter liked them..Lexi not so much.

Uncle Ben and Ele visit

Uncle Ben and Ele came for a visit while off from the Air Force Academy on summer break.  The kids love spending time with them.  Hunter misses Uncle Ben because he likes having a guy around that is younger.

 Uncle Ben, Hunter, and Papa fishing at Oak Run.

The girls were teaching Ele their tricks :)



Turbo

On Sunday Tina and I took the kids to see Turbo.  This was such a cute movie.  The previews showed some cute sequels coming soon and they can't wait to see them...especially Rio 2.

American Girl Doll Store

At the end of July the "Johnson" girls planned a trip to Chicago and took Addysen and Lexi to get their American Girl Dolls!!  This was one of the best trips I have been on.  These two girls were so excited to get these dolls.  Let me tell you all the smiles and giggles were well worth the money!!

Friday we took the morning train up to Chicago.

Lexi, Addysen, & Ainsley ready to get on the train.

Lexi, Addysen, & Morgan chillin on the train.  The two little girls are looking through the American Girl catalog anticipating the store once we get there.

 Checked into the hotel and now ready to hit the doll store!  What pretty girls in their matching dresses that Katie got for them. 

~American Girl Place~

They were dancing around waiting for the group so they could enter the store.  Look at those smiles!!

They found the section with the dolls and are ready to pick theirs out.

Lexi and Addysen both picked "Julie" as their doll.

Lexi with her first set of shopping bags.  I say "first" because Katie and I kept buying them more stuff.  It was very easy to get caught up in the excitement.  Thanks Katie :)

Me and Peanut

 Addysen & Lexi                              Peanut and Julie

Lexi and Aunt Erin

 Dolls in hand with backpacks to carry them in.  We are ready for more shopping with smiles on our faces!!

 Lexi and I walked next door to the Lego store.  Lexi wanted to get Hunter something since he didn't get to come on the trip. 

After dinner we headed back to the hotel to get some sleep.  I got all of the girls matching jammies.  This is the best shot I could get of the girls.  How cute are they!!

The next day we did more shopping then headed home on the afternoon train.  When I say more shopping we stopped at the Nike store and visited The Cheesecake Factory.  The food is good but it was such a long wait for our table and then the service was horrible.  These two things pretty much took up our time before we had to head back to the train.  When we got to the hotel of course they were not able to call for a cab.  We had to hope one stopped by.  We ended up getting this app on my phone and located a driver..which ended up costing more because he was a personal driver.  In fact after he dropped us off he was picking up a MLB player to take to the stadium which was pretty cool.  All in all we made it on time to the train station :)

 all of the pretty girls

 The Swanson girls

 Lexi & Morgan listening to music while waiting for our table at The Cheesecake Factory

Finally on the train and headed back home.  What a great trip!